DMCA Policy – BoardQuest

At BoardQuest, we recognize the importance of respecting and protecting the intellectual property rights of publishers, designers, illustrators, and all creators involved in the development of board games. Our club serves as a community hub for enthusiasts to gather, play, and celebrate board gaming culture. To maintain a lawful and fair environment, we comply with the principles of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). This policy explains how copyright holders can submit notices of infringement, how members may respond, and what measures the club undertakes to protect both creators and participants.

1. Purpose and Scope

This DMCA Policy establishes clear procedures for handling copyright-related issues in our board games club, including:

• Printed materials such as rulebooks, game boards, cards, and manuals.
• Artistic designs, illustrations, and character artwork.
• Game mechanics, expansions, and supplementary content when protected under copyright law.
• Digital adaptations of physical board games, where applicable.
• Written descriptions, promotional material, and original concepts used during club activities.

Unauthorized copying, distribution, public display, or modification of these works is strictly prohibited. Whether it is reproducing an entire rulebook, scanning card decks, or distributing unlicensed digital versions of a tabletop game, such actions violate intellectual property laws and undermine the creative industry.

2. Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice

Copyright owners or their authorized representatives who believe their work is infringed may submit a DMCA Takedown Notice. A valid notice must contain:

• Your full legal name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed.
• Identification of the material or activity allegedly infringing, including location details.
• A good faith statement under penalty of perjury that the disputed use is unauthorized.
• A statement that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright holder.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

Upon receiving a valid notice, we will review it promptly, remove or restrict access to the infringing material, and notify the responsible member.

3. Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was removed or restricted in error, you may submit a counter-notification, which must include:

• Your full legal name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Identification of the removed material and its prior location.
• A statement under penalty of perjury that the removal was a mistake or misidentification.
• A statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the relevant court and agreeing to accept service of process from the original complainant.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

After receiving a valid counter-notification, we forward it to the original complainant. Unless legal proceedings are initiated within the statutory timeframe, the removed material may be restored.

4. Repeat Infringers

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate membership for individuals who repeatedly infringe copyrighted works. Examples include distributing unauthorized copies of rulebooks, creating unlicensed expansions, or reproducing artwork without permission. Repeat violations may result in permanent bans.

5. Fair Use Considerations

Not all uses of copyrighted content are unlawful. Examples of fair use include:

• Educational demonstrations or workshops teaching board games.
• Reviews, critiques, or commentary about board games.
• Tutorials and strategy discussions for learning purposes.
• Fan-created content that transforms the original work rather than replicating it.

Fair use is limited and does not permit wholesale reproduction. Members must carefully consider boundaries before sharing content.

6. Misuse of DMCA

Submitting false or misleading DMCA notices or counter-notifications is strictly prohibited. Misuse may result in disciplinary actions, including membership suspension, and may expose the party to legal liability.